Solar cell panel

ABSTRACT

A plurality of solar cell assembly series  9  of a solar cell panel are so arranged that any two adjacent solar cells in the plurality of solar cell assembly series  9  have a potential difference which does not exceed V volts which is a maximum output voltage of the plurality of solar cell assembly series  9 . Electric discharges between any two adjacent solar cells can be prevented from occurring. Even when the output voltage of a solar cell module changes according to control by a power control circuit, electric discharges can be prevented from occurring between solar cell modules in the solar cell array in which any two adjacent solar cells in the plurality of solar cell assembly series  9  always have a potential difference which does not exceed V volts which is the maximum output voltage of the plurality of solar cell assembly series  9.  In addition, the solar cell modules can be constructed of a combination of solar cell series patterns having line symmetry. In this case, while electric discharges can be prevented from occurring between any solar cells, the magnetic field caused by the solar cell circuitry can be reduced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/508,539, filed Sep. 27, 2004, which is the U.S. National StageApplication of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP04/01200, filedFeb. 5, 2004, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2003-033735, filed Feb. 12, 2003. The entire contents of each of theabove applications are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a solar cell panel for use inspacecrafts, such as satellites and airships. More particularly, itrelates to a solar cell array and a solar cell panel structure that canprevent electrical discharges from occurring between any solar cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, many spacecrafts carrying a solar cell panel have beenlofted into space. As spacecrafts become more sophisticated infunctionality, solar cell panels which can supply high power tospacecrafts are needed. The need to raise the output voltages of solarcell panels has therefore arisen from this necessity for the supply ofhigh power. Since the potential difference between solar cells in asolar cell panel becomes large with increase in the output voltage ofthe solar cell panel, an electric discharge which originates from powergenerated by the solar cells which is an energy source can easily occurbetween the solar cells.

A prior art solar cell panel in which an insulating material, such as anRTV adhesive, is filled into the gap between solar cells in the solarcell panel and is used as an insulating barrier is known as a measurefor preventing an electric discharge from occurring between the solarcells (refer to patent reference 1, for example).

[Patent reference 1] Japanese patent application publication No.11-274,542 (see FIGS. 11 and 18)

The prior art solar cell panel in which an insulating material, such asan RTV adhesive, is placed in the gap between solar cells in the solarcell panel and is used as an insulating barrier has the followingproblems. The first problem is that the prior art solar cell panelincreases in weight by only the weight of the adhesive which is used asthe insulating barrier. The second problem is that the prior art solarcell panel increases in cost because of increase in the material cost ofthe adhesive which is used as the insulating barrier, the cost ofinstalling the insulating barrier, increase in the cost of launching arocket, and so on.

According to patent reference 1, since any two adjacent solar cellassembly series are so connected as to have different gradientdirections in their potentials with respect to a folded connection pointtherebetween, any two adjacent solar cells in any two adjacent solarcell assembly series have a minimum potential difference of 0 volts attheir lowermost ends and a maximum potential difference of 2V volts attheir uppermost ends when each solar cell assembly series has apotential difference of V volts. The uppermost ends of any two adjacentsolar cell assembly series having the maximum potential difference areat increased risk of causing electrostatic discharges.

The smaller potential difference solar cells have, the lower risk ofcausing electric discharges between the solar cells. When there is noinsulating barrier between any solar cells, an adequate margin of safetycan be provided against electric discharges if the voltages of solarcells are reduced to ½ or less of original ones, as compared with a casewhere an insulating barrier is provided between any solar cells (referto paragraph number (0049) of patent reference 1). Therefore,implementation of an arrangement of solar cells which can reduce thepotential difference between any two adjacent solar cells is effectivein preventing electric discharges from occurring between any solarcells.

The present invention is made in order to solve the above-mentionedproblems, and it is therefore an object of the present invention toprovide a solar cell panel that can prevent electric discharges fromoccurring between any solar cells without installing an insulatingbarrier in the gap between any solar cells.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a solar cellpanel in which the potential difference between any two adjacent solarcells is reduced to less than 2V volts in the prior art even wheninstalling an insulating barrier into the gap between any two solarcells, thereby providing a more adequate margin of safety againstelectric discharges between solar cells as compared with prior art solarcell panels.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a solar cell panel including: a plurality of solar cellassembly series each including a plurality of solar cells andinterconnectors each for electrically connecting between two of thesesolar cells in series, said plurality of solar cells being arrangedsubstantially in a line and any two of said plurality of solar cellsbeing electrically connected in series by one of said interconnectors;an insulator on which said plurality of solar cell assembly series arearranged at predetermined gaps; and connection lines that electricallyconnect said plurality of adjacent solar cell assembly series so thatthey are connected in series, said plurality of solar cell assemblyseries being arranged so that they have an identical gradient directionin their potentials.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a solar cell panel including: a plurality of solar cellassembly series each including a plurality of solar cells andinterconnectors each for electrically connecting between two of thesesolar cells in series, said plurality of solar cells being arrangedsubstantially in a line and any two of said plurality of solar cellsbeing electrically connected in series by one of said interconnectors;an insulator on which said plurality of solar cell assembly series arearranged at predetermined gaps; first connection lines that electricallyconnect some of said plurality of solar cell assembly series so thatthey are connected in series so as to form a first solar cell string;and second connection lines that electrically connect remaining ones ofsaid plurality of solar cell assembly series so that they are connectedin series so as to form a second solar cell string, the solar cellassembly series of said first solar cell string and the solar cellassembly series of said second solar cell string being arranged so thatthey are surely adjacent to one another.

As a result, electric discharges can be prevented from occurring betweenany solar cells in the solar cell panel without installing an insulatingbarrier into the gap between any solar cells. In addition, wheninstalling an insulating barrier into the gap between any solar cells, amore adequate margin of safety can be provided against electricdischarges between solar cells as compared with prior art solar cellpanels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of each of embodiments 1 to 4 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of solar cell circuitry according to embodiment 1 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of solar cell circuitry according to embodiment 2 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of solar cell circuitry according to embodiment 3 ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of solar cell circuitry according to embodiment 4 ofthe present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereafter, in order to explain this invention in greater detail, thepreferred embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing embodiment 1 of the present invention. InFIG. 1, solar cells 2 are secured to a surface of an insulator 1.Interconnectors 3 are connected to each of the solar cells 2, and acover glass 4 is bonded to each of the solar cells 2.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of FIG. 1 takenalong the line 5-5.

As shown in FIG. 2, each solar cell 2 is secured to the surface of theinsulator 1 by an adhesive 6, and the cover glass 4 is secured to thelight receiving surface of each solar cell 2 by an adhesive 7.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, wiring for connecting among solar cell assembly seriesis not shown.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of solar cell circuitryaccording to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, n solar cell assemblies 8 each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 hasa maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 are electrically connected in series by way of connection lines10 so that a solar cell string 11 is constructed. The solar cell string11 has a maximum output voltage V₁=N*V equal to the total sum of themaximum output voltages of the plurality of solar cell assembly serieselectrically connected in series.

In the solar cell panel constructed as mentioned above, the last solarcell assembly of the first solar cell assembly series 9 a which islocated at the lowermost end thereof shown in the figure is electricallyconnected in series with the first solar cell assembly of the secondsolar cell assembly series 9 b which is located at the uppermost endthereof shown in the figure by a connection line 10. Therefore, sincethe solar cells in the first solar cell assembly series 9 a which arerunning from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figure haverespective potentials u, 2 u, . . . , (n−1)*u, and n*u, and the solarcells in the second solar cell assembly series 9 b which are runningfrom the uppermost end thereof shown in the figure have respectivepotentials V+u, V+2 u, V+(n−1)*u, and V+n*u, any two adjacent solarcells in the first and second solar cell assembly series can have apotential difference which does not exceed V.

Then, connections among solar cell assembly series including up to theNth solar cell assembly series 9 c are repeatedly carried out. Thus, theplurality of solar cell assembly series are arranged so that they havean identical gradient direction in their potentials in the solar cellstring. Conventionally, any two adjacent solar cells have a maximumpotential difference of 2V volts. In contrast, in accordance with thisembodiment, the potential difference between any two adjacent solarcells in any two adjacent solar cell assembly series is greatly reducedto V volts which is the maximum output voltage of each solar cellassembly series or less.

As a result, electric discharges can be prevented from occurring betweenany solar cells in the solar cell panel. The weight of the solar cellpanel can be reduced, the efficiency of mounting solar cells in thesolar cell panel can be increased, and the cost of the solar cell panelcan be reduced. In addition, when installing an insulating barrier intothe gap between any two solar cells, an adequate margin of safety can beprovided against electric discharges between solar cells as comparedwith prior art solar cell panels.

Embodiment 2.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing embodiment 2 of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of FIG. 1 takenalong the line 5-5.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing solar cell circuitry according to embodiment2 of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, n solar cell assemblies 8 a each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 a is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 ahas a maximum output voltage V=n*u.

Furthermore, N solar cell assembly series 9 a are electrically connectedin series byway of connection lines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 ais constructed. Similarly, n solar cell assemblies 8 b each having amaximum output voltage u are arranged substantially in a line so thateach solar cell assembly series 9 b is constructed. Each solar cellassembly series 9 b has a maximum output voltage V=n*u.

Furthermore, N solar cell assembly series 9 b are electrically connectedin series byway of connection lines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 bis constructed. The solar cell string 11 a and the solar cell string 11b are connected in parallel so that a solar cell module 12 isconstructed.

The first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 a is arranged atthe leftmost end of the solar cell module, and the first series of the Nsolar cell assembly series 9 b is arranged at the rightmost end of thesolar cell module. The first series of the N solar cell assembly series9 a is so arranged as to have a direction of potential differencebetween 0 volts at its uppermost end and V volts at its lowermost end,and the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 b is soarranged as to have a direction of potential difference between 0 voltsat its lowermost end and V volts at its uppermost end.

In the solar cell panel constructed as mentioned above, the first seriesof the N solar cell assembly series 9 a and the second series of the Nsolar cell assembly series 9 b are so arranged as to be adjacent to eachother. Therefore, since the solar cells in the first solar cell assemblyseries 9 a which are running from the uppermost end thereof shown in thefigure have respective potentials u, 2 u, . . . , (n−1)*u, and n*u, andthe solar cells in the second solar cell assembly series 9 b which arerunning from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figure haverespective potentials V+u, V+2 u, . . . , V+(n−1)*u, and V+n*u, any twoadjacent solar cells in the first solar cell assembly series 9 a and thesecond solar cell assembly series 9 b can have a potential differencewhich does not exceed V.

Similarly, any other solar cell assembly series 9 a which constitutesthe solar cell string 11 a in the solar cell module and a correspondingsolar cell assembly series 9 b which constitutes the other solar cellstring 11 b connected in parallel with the solar cell string 11 a are soarranged as to be adjacent to each other. Conventionally, any twoadjacent solar cells have a maximum potential difference of 2V volts. Incontrast, in accordance with this embodiment, the potential differencebetween any two adjacent solar cells in any two adjacent solar cellassembly series is greatly reduced to V volts which is the maximumoutput voltage of each solar cell assembly series or less.

As a result, electric discharges can be prevented from occurring betweenany solar cells in the solar cell panel. The weight of the solar cellpanel can be reduced, the efficiency of mounting solar cells in thesolar cell panel can be increased, and the cost of the solar cell panelcan be reduced. In addition, when installing an insulating barrier intothe gap between any two solar cells, an adequate margin of safety can beprovided against electric discharges between solar cells as comparedwith prior art solar cell panels.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing embodiment 3 of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of FIG. 1 takenalong the line 5-5.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing solar cell circuitry according to embodiment3 of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, n solar cell assemblies 8 a each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 a is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 ahas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 a are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 a is constructed.

Similarly, n solar cell assemblies 8 b each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 b is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 bhas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 b are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 b is constructed. The solar cellstring 11 a and the solar cell string 11 b are connected in parallel sothat a solar cell module 12 a is constructed.

In addition, n solar cell assemblies 8 c each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 c is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 chas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 c are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 c is constructed.

Similarly, n solar cell assemblies 8 d each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 d is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 dhas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 d are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 d is constructed. The solar cellstring 11 c and the solar cell string 11 d are connected in parallel sothat a solar cell module 12 b is constructed.

In the solar cell panel constructed as mentioned above, the first seriesof the N solar cell assembly series 9 a and the second series of the Nsolar cell assembly series 9 b are so arranged as to be adjacent to eachother. Therefore, since the solar cells in the first series of the Nsolar cell assembly series 9 a which are running from the uppermost endthereof shown in the figure have respective output potentials u, 2 u, .. . , (n−1)*u, and n*u, and the solar cells in the second series of theN solar cell assembly series 9 b which are running from the uppermostend thereof shown in the figure have respective output potentials V+u,V+2 u, . . . , V+(n−1)*u, and V+n*u, any two adjacent solar cells in thefirst series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 a and the secondseries of the N solar cell assembly series 9 b can have a potentialdifference which does not exceed V.

Similarly, any other solar cell assembly series 9 a which constitutesthe solar cell string 11 a in the solar cell module 12 a and acorresponding solar cell assembly series 9 b which constitutes the othersolar cell string 11 b connected in parallel with the solar cell string11 a are so arranged as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, any twoadjacent solar cells in any two adjacent solar cell assembly series 9 aand 9 b in the solar cell module 12 a can have a potential differencewhich does not exceed V.

In addition, the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 cand the second series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 d are soarranged as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, since the solarcells in the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 c whichare running from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figure haverespective output potentials u, 2 u, . . . , (n−1)*u, and n*u, and thesolar cells in the second series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 dwhich are running from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figurehave respective output potentials V+u, V+2 u, V+(n−1)*u, and V+n*u, anytwo adjacent solar cells in the first series of the N solar cellassembly series 9 c and the second series of the N solar cell assemblyseries 9 d can have a potential difference which does not exceed V.

Similarly, any other solar cell assembly series 9 c which constitutesthe solar cell string 11 c in the solar cell module 12 b and acorresponding solar cell assembly series 9 d which constitutes the othersolar cell string 11 d connected in parallel with the solar cell string11 c are so arranged as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, any twoadjacent solar cells in any two adjacent solar cell assembly series 9 cand 9 d in the solar cell module 12 b can have a potential differencewhich does not exceed V.

The solar cell module 12 a and the solar cell module 12 b are soarranged that they are point symmetric to each other with respect to acenter of a boundary line between the solar cell module 12 a and thesolar cell module 12 b, Therefore, since the first series of the N solarcell assembly series 9 b and the first series of the N solar cellassembly series 9 c are so arranged they are point symmetric to eachother with respect to the center of the boundary line, the solar cellsin the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 b which arerunning from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figure haverespective output potentials n*u, (n−1)*u, . . . , 2*u, and u, and thesolar cells in the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 cwhich are running from the uppermost end thereof shown in the FIG. haverespective output potentials u, 2 u, . . . , (n−1)*u, and n*u.

Therefore, the maximum potential of the solar cell assembly serieswithin each solar cell module, which is arranged adjacent to the othersolar cell module, can be reduced to the maximum output voltage V ofeach solar cell assembly series or less.

Thus, even if the output voltage of each solar cell module changes in arange from 0 volts to the maximum output voltage V, according to controlby a power control circuit, the potential difference between any twoadjacent solar cells in any two solar cell assembly series of the solarcell panel, as well as the potential difference between the two adjacentsolar cell modules, can be always reduced to the maximum output voltageV of each solar cell assembly series or less.

As a result, electric discharges can be prevented from occurring betweenany solar cells in the solar cell panel. The weight of the solar cellpanel can be reduced, the efficiency of mounting solar cells in thesolar cell panel can be increased, and the cost of the solar cell panelcan be reduced. In addition, when installing an insulating barrier intothe gap between any two solar cells, an adequate margin of safety can beprovided against electric discharges between solar cells as comparedwith prior art solar cell panels.

Embodiment 4.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing embodiment 4 of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of FIG. 1 takenalong the line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing solar cell circuitry according to embodiment4 of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, n solar cell assemblies 8 a each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 a is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 ahas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 a are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 a is constructed.

Similarly, n solar cell assemblies 8 b each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 b is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 bhas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 b are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 b is constructed. The solar cellstring 11 a and the solar cell string 11 b are connected in parallel sothat a solar cell module 12 a is constructed.

In addition, n solar cell assemblies 8 c each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 c is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 chas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 c are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 c is constructed.

Similarly, n solar cell assemblies 8 d each having a maximum outputvoltage u are arranged substantially in a line so that each solar cellassembly series 9 d is constructed. Each solar cell assembly series 9 dhas a maximum output voltage V=n*u. Furthermore, N solar cell assemblyseries 9 d are electrically connected in series by way of connectionlines 10 so that a solar cell string 11 d is constructed. The solar cellstring 11 c and the solar cell string 11 d are connected in parallel sothat a solar cell module 12 b is constructed.

In the solar cell panel constructed as mentioned above, the first seriesof the N solar cell assembly series 9 a and the second series of the Nsolar cell assembly series 9 b are so arranged as to be adjacent to eachother. Therefore, since the solar cells in the first series of the Nsolar cell assembly series 9 a which are running from the uppermost endthereof shown in the figure have respective output potentials u, 2 u, .. . , (n−1)*u, and n*u, and the solar cells in the second series of theN solar cell assembly series 9 b which are running from the uppermostend thereof shown in the figure have respective output potentials V+u,V+2 u, V+(n−1)*u, and V+n*u, any two adjacent solar cells in the firstseries of the N solar cell assembly series 9 a and the second series ofthe N solar cell assembly series 9 b can have a potential differencewhich does not exceed V.

Similarly, any other solar cell assembly series 9 a which constitutesthe solar cell string 11 a in the solar cell module 12 a and acorresponding solar cell assembly series 9 b which constitutes the othersolar cell string 11 b connected in parallel with the solar cell string11 a are so arranged as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, any twoadjacent solar cells in any two adjacent solar cell assembly series 9 aand 9 b in the solar cell module 12 a can have a potential differencewhich does not exceed V.

In addition, the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 cand the second series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 d are soarranged as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, since the solarcells in the first series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 c whichare running from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figure haverespective output potentials u, 2 u, . . . , (n−1)*u, and n*u, and thesolar cells in the second series of the N solar cell assembly series 9 dwhich are running from the uppermost end thereof shown in the figurehave respective output potentials V+u, V+2 u, . . . , V+(n−1)*u, andV+n*u, any two adjacent solar cells in the first series of the N solarcell assembly series 9 c and the second series of the N solar cellassembly series 9 d can have a potential difference which does notexceed V.

Similarly, any other solar cell assembly series 9 c which constitutesthe solar cell string 11 c in the solar cell module 12 b and acorresponding solar cell assembly series 9 d which constitutes the othersolar cell string 11 d connected in parallel with the solar cell string11 c are so arranged as to be adjacent to each other. Therefore, any twoadjacent solar cells in any two adjacent solar cell assembly series 9 cand 9 d in the solar cell module 12 b can have a potential differencewhich does not exceed V.

In addition, the solar cell module 12 a and the solar cell module 12 bare so arranged that they are line symmetric to each other with respectto a boundary line between the solar cell module 12 a and the solar cellmodule 12 b, Therefore, since the first series of the N solar cellassembly series 9 b and the first series of the N solar cell assemblyseries 9 c are so arranged they are line symmetric to each other withrespect to the boundary line, the solar cells in the first series of theN solar cell assembly series 9 b which are running from the uppermostend thereof shown in the figure have respective output potentials n*u,(n−1)*u, . . . , 2*u, and u, and the solar cells in the first series ofthe N solar cell assembly series 9 c which are running from theuppermost end thereof shown in the figure have respective outputpotentials n*u, (n−1)*u, . . . , 2*u, and u. The solar cell assemblyseries within one solar cell module is therefore arranged at a potentialdifference of 0 volts with its neighboring solar cell assembly serieswithin the other solar cell module.

Thus, even if the output voltage of each solar cell module changes in arange from 0 volts to the maximum output voltage V₁ according to controlby a power control circuit, the potential difference between any twoadjacent solar cells in any two solar cell assembly series of the solarcell panel, as well as the potential difference between the two adjacentsolar cell modules, can be always reduced to the maximum output voltageV of each solar cell assembly series or less.

In addition, since the solar cell assembly series pattern of the solarcell module 12 a has line symmetry with respect to the solar cellassembly series pattern of the solar cell module 12 b, the magneticfield caused by one of the two solar cell modules can be canceled by themagnetic field caused by the other solar cell module.

As a result, electric discharges can be prevented from occurring betweenany solar cells in the solar cell panel. The weight of the solar cellpanel can be reduced, the efficiency of mounting solar cells in thesolar cell panel can be increased, and the cost of the solar cell panelcan be reduced. In addition, when installing an insulating barrier intothe gap between any two solar cells, an adequate margin of safety can beprovided against electric discharges between solar cells as comparedwith prior art solar cell panels.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As mentioned above, the solar cell panel according to the presentinvention is suitable for use in spacecrafts, such as satellites andairships.

1. A solar cell panel characterized in that said solar cell panelcomprises: a plurality of solar cell assembly series each including aplurality of solar cells and interconnectors each for electricallyconnecting between two of these solar cells in series, said plurality ofsolar cells being arranged substantially in a line and any two of saidplurality of solar cells being electrically connected in series by oneof said interconnectors; an insulator on which said plurality of solarcell assembly series are arranged at predetermined gaps; and connectionlines that electrically connect said plurality of adjacent solar cellassembly series so that they are connected in series, said plurality ofsolar cell assembly series being arranged so that they have an identicalgradient direction in their potentials.